Wire stretcher



J. F. KESSLER WIRE STRETCHER Filed Feb. 24, 1951 @Maw/foy ME75/Mig? l e? Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved wire stretcher which is adapted for use in stretching fence wires, either of the single strand type, or of the fabric type, and includes means for supporting the stretcher in an upright position while in operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a wire stretcher provided with improved clamping means, whereby a plurality of single strands of wire can be clamped in position for stretching between two upright posts, or wherein a wire fabric can be engaged by the clamp, and the clamp is provided with improved means for imparting movement to the same whereby the stretching operation can be easily carried out.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a wire stretcher which includes a substantially rectangular frame supporting spaced guide rods on which a clamping member is sldably mounted, and includes a threaded shaft rotatably mounted in the frame and having adjustable connection with the clamping member whereby rotation of the shaft will impart movement to the clamping member relative to the frame and impart a stretching movement to the wires, or wire fabric.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the application of my invention when used in stretching a plurality of strands of wire;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts thereof broken away and illustrated in crc-ss section;

Figure 3 is a detailed section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a detailed vertical section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

In the accompanying drawing, l indicates the main frame of the stretcher which is preferably rectangular in shape as illustrated. The frame is provided at opposite sides with supporting standards 2, whereby the frame can be supported in spaced relation with the surface on which it is resting, as shown in Figure l. Suitably mounted within the frame are the spaced guide rods 3 arranged adjacent the top and bottom respectively and retained therein by means of the bolts 4.

The clamping bar 5 is provided with spaced openings to receive the guide rods 3 whereby the bar 5 can be moved laterally of the frame 1 and one face of the bar 5 is provided with a clamping plate 6. The bar 5 may be of wood, or other suitable material, and the plate 6 attached to one face thereof to reduce to a minimum the wear on the bar.

Arranged in opposed relation with the bar 5 is a clamping bar 7 having a metal clamping plate 6 attached to one face thereof and adapted to cooperate with the plate 6 for clamping either single strands of wire, or wire fabric between the bar 5 and the clamping bar 7. IThe two bars 5 and 7 are connected by means of a plurality of bolts 8 which first pass through the bar 5 and then through the bar 7 with nuts arranged on the outer ends thereof for urging the bar 7 into clamping engagement with the bar 5.

Connected tc one side of the supporting bar 5 is a yoke 10, the ends of which are attached to the bar, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, while the intermediate portion thereof carries a bearing block 11 and is also formed with a central threaded aperture.

Rotatably mounted in the frame 1, between the two rods 3 is the adjusting shaft 12 having a threaded portion 13 adapted to adjustably engage the yoke 10 and the bearing block 1l, whereby rotative movement of shaft 12 will adjust the bars 5 and 7 within the frame. The outer end of shaft 12 is provided with a crank handle 14 whereby this shaft may be manually operated whenever desired.

One side of the frame is provided with spaced eye-hooks 15 which can be engaged by suitable chains 16, or the like, which are preferably used when stretching fencing so that the other ends of these chains 16 can be attached to a post as indicated 17, to retain the frame 1 against movement during the stretching operation.

As shown in Figure 1, the device is being used for stretching a plurality of wire strands generally indicated at 18, the loose ends of these strands are placed between the two clamping plates 6 and 6 and bar 7 is then urged toward bar 5 so that the clamping plates 6 and 6 will tightly engage the wire strands. The frame is then connected to the post 17 by the chains 16 and the shaft 12 can then be rotated for moving the bars 5 and 7 toward the post 17 to stretch the wire strands 18 to their desired position after which they can be secured to the post 19 by means of staples or other similar fastening members.

While it has been stated that this device can be used for stretching wire fabric, it will be apparent that in order to place the fabric between the bars 5 and 7, it will be necessary to detach bar 7 from the bolts 8 and then place the wire fabric on the clamping plate 6. The bar 7 is then replaced on the bolts 8 and the nuts 9 tightened down to securely clamp the fabric between the plates 6 and 6.

The device is preferably used for stretching end bars, anchor eyes carried by the rear end bar, a pair of spaced parallel guide rods connecting the end bars together, a rotatable operating shaft carried by the end bars having feed screw threads formed therein, a stretcher bar mounted between the end bars on the guide rods, a feed nut connected with the stretcher bar receiving the feed screw threads of the shaft, and an operating handle formed directly on the shaft.

JACOB P. KESSLER. 

